Mikel Horton's 12-yard run with 57 seconds remaining helped Kentucky overcome blowing a three-touchdown lead and escape Louisiana-Lafayette 40-33 Saturday night in the season opener for both squads.

The Wildcats appeared in control after Patrick Towles' five-yard touchdown pass to Blake Bone provided a 33-10 lead late in the third quarter. But Austin MacGinnis' missed extra point opened the door for the Ragin' Cajuns to rally with TD runs of 56 and 26 yards by Torrey Pierce and a 23-yarder by Jalen Nixon.

Elijah McGuire's game-tying two point conversion run with 7:36 left created more anxiety among 61,000 initially buoyed by the Wildcats' domination and CWS' unveiling after a $120 million upgrade.

Kentucky's urgency grew when Towles fumbled a fourth-and-1 snap at Louisiana's 49 but somehow recovered the ball for a two-yard gain to extend the drive and set up Horton's game-winning run five plays later.